Former OpenAI science lead Kevin Weil has launched Warp Sciences, an AI startup focused on automating laboratory work for drug discovery.
The company uses robots to synthesize and test compounds, backed by $215 million in funding led by Lightspeed.
The company trains robots to build and test promising chemical compounds that researchers identify. Through this automation, Warp Sciences hopes to speed up the drug development process by using robots that can operate non-stop around the clock.
Financing and investors
According to Weil, the startup has raised $215 million in funding, valuing it at $865 million. The funding round was led by Lightspeed, with participation from IVP, Premji Invest and Lux Capital.
Return of work to the United States
Until now, many biotech companies have outsourced the most tedious molecular synthesis tasks to Chinese partners like WuXi AppTec. With this new effort, Weil seeks to bring that work back to the United States, shielding the drug development process from geopolitical risks in the supply chain.
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To train the robots, the company's chemists wear cameras and special gloves with sensors, recording their movements so that the robots can learn to perform various tasks in the laboratory.
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